Interlocking grating panel



Dm 19 1944' c. N. wlLsoN 2,365,233

INTERLOCKING GRATING PANEL Filed Jan. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l [NVE NTOR @verges MMSQI,

Dmn 19, 1944. C, N, WILSON 2,365,233

INTERLOCKING GRATING PANEL Filed Jan. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5FIG. 4

INVENTOR melted D. 19, 1944 INTERLOCKIN G GRATIN G PANEL Charles N.Wilson, Fort Belvoir. Va.. assigner to the United States of America,represented by the Secretary of War Application January 27, 1941, SerialNo. 376,217

6 Claims. (Cl. 94-13) (Granted under the att of March a, 1883, asamended April 30. 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described hereinmay be manugovernmental purposes, without the payment to me of anyroyaltyl thereon. 1

This invention relates to metal grating and more particularly to gratingof the type that is especially suited for use as airfield runways,taxiways, roadways. ramps, bridge surfacing, garage flooring, etc.

An important object of my invention is to provide an interlockinggrating panel which is of strong and rigid construction capable ofsuccessfully withstanding the heavy shocks and stresses to which it isnormally subject in use without breaking or deforming.

Another object of my invention is to provide an interlocking gratingpanel of the above character which is of comparatively simpleconstruction so as to lend itself to rapid and economical manufacture.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an interlockinggrating panel of the above character which is capable of quick assemblywith duplicate panels by means of interlocking cou pling elementscarried by and forming part of the panel without the need forsupplemental locking means, such as bolts, pins, rivets, wires, bands orother connectors such as are now commonly used for tying togethergrating units and which provide a weak and insecure fastening for suchunits besides being liable to become lost or separated from the panelunits.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of a preferred `'embodiment of the invention,reference being`had to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an interlocking grating panel;

' Figure 2 is a side view of the panel of Fig. 1;

.Figure 3 is a detail view showing a pair of coupling elementsconnecting two adjacent panels;

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the coupling elements, taken on theline 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 shows one of the fixed coupling elements;

Figure 6 shows the movable coupling element; and

Figure 7 illustrates the lother form of fixed cou pling element that isassociated with the panel.

Grating for use as temporary roadways or airplane runways, for example,is frequently manufactured in units of generally square or rectangularshape so as to be readily transportable from storage to the place ofintended use. These units are there assembledend-to-end and side-by-side'factured and used by or for the Government for so as to provide a rm,continuous, non-skid supporting surface for the wheels of trucks orairplanes. Heretofore it has been common practice to make these gratingunits of open-ended construction and to interconnect certain of thestructural elements of the units by means of bolts, rivets or straps.

Such grating units, however, are liable to deformation under the heavyshocks and impacts to which they are subjected in service and as aconsequence the individual units tend to separate and break theirfasteners, thus causing gaps between units and allowing the units tobend out of shape. Independent fasteners, furthermore, are open to thedisadvantage thatv they are slow and tedious to apply, difficult tolocate and place at night under poor lighting conditions, and frequentlybecome lost in shipment.

In accordance with my invention the grating panel is so constructed asto strongly resist deformation and the fastening or coupling means areso located with respect to the grating elements that the reaction to anyforces tending to separate contiguous panels is transmitted alongsubstantially straight lines to opposite sides ofthe panel frame,thereby effectively preventing spreading of the panels out of theiroriginal square or rectangular shape and preventing gaps from occurringbetween adjacent panels.

The interlocking grating panel illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a rigidframe l enclosing an openwork grating section 2, both frame and gratingbeing made of similar at strips of metal, such as rolled iron, bent toshape. The frame, here shown as of substantially square outline, isconstituted of side sections la andend sections Ib. Extending straightbetween the end sections of the frame and in a direction parallel to theside sections and to each other are-main longitudinal bars 3, these barsat their ends being bent at right-angles to provide feet 3a which flatlyabut the end sections lb to which they are rigidly secured by rivets 4.

Arranged intermediate and parallel to the main longitudinal bars 3 aresupplementary longitudinal bars 5, and bent so as to extend back andforth between the longitudinal bars 3 and 5 and between the supplementallongitudinal bars and the frame l in a manner such as to define nearlyequilateral triangles therewith are truss bars 6. These truss bars areflattened at their apices where they contact the longitudinal bars andframe and are secured to the longitudinal bars 3 by rivets 1.

longitudinal bars and serve to connect pairs of The rivets 1 extendthrough the truss bars located upon opposite sides of the longitudinalbars. By virtue of this arrangement, the sides of the triangles formedby the truss bars extend approximately in alignment from side-tosidediagonally of the panel.

The ends of the two adjacent truss bars included between a pair oflongitudinal bars 3 terminate short of the end sections I b, and theseends are joined by terminal pieces 8, also made of flat strip metal.These terminal pieces are oi generally spread V-shape and have theirends ilattened, as indicated at 8a, so as to overlie the flattened endsof the truss bars 6. The flattened ends of the truss bars and terminalpieces are secured to the longitudinal bars 3 by means of rivets 1c. Theterminal pieces are flattened at their apices, as indicated at 8b, andbear against spacer blocks forming part of the fixed coupling elements 9and I. The ends of the supplementary longitudinal bars are toed up toprovide feet 5a which rest against the attened areas upon the terminalpieces which overlie the spacer blocks, the supplementary bars, terminalpieces and spacer blocks all being rigidly secured to the end sectionsIb of the frame by rivets I i.

The frame I at spaced distances throughout its perimeter is formed withinwardly oiset portions I2, and adapted to slide along these offsetportions are movable coupling elements I3. These movable couplingelements, best illustrated in Fig. 6, each comprises a ring I3aencircling and slidable along one of the side or end sections oi theframe, and a key I3b extending from the ring in a direction parallel tothe outer face of the frame. Anchored in place by the rivets Ii are thefixed coupling elements 9 and I G. Coupling element 9, as best shown inFig. 5, comprises a ring 9a encircling and bridging the outer face ofthe frame and a spacer block 9b projecting laterally beyond the plane ofthis ring and provided with an opening I4. The iixed coupling elementI0, best illustrated in Fig. '7, consists of a ring Illa, correspondingto ring 9a, and a spacer block IlJb constituting one side of the ring,this spacer block having an opening I5 therethrough. The openings I4 andI5 in coupling elements 9 and lli) are of corresponding size so as toreceive a rivet II (see Fig. 4) but are differently located with respectto the ring. 'I'hat is, the opening I4 in coupling element 9 islocatedto one side of the plane of the ring 9a by a distance equal to slightlymore than the width of the ring Ilia of coupling element IU, while theopening I5 is located in the plane of the ring lila. This arrangement isnecessary in order to permit the ilxed coupling element 9 to occupy aposition laterally adjacent the fixed ,coupling element I0 when thegrating panels are assembled in abutting relation. When so assembled themovable coupling element I3 may be slid along the frame until the keyI3b passes through the rings 9a and I0a of the xed coupling elements,thus interlocking the panels as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 1 is shown the manner of assembling the panels for forming aroadway or runway. The panels extending lengthwise of the eld areassembled end-tfo-end in aligned relation, while the laterally 'abuttingpanels are disposed in staggered relation in order to break up thecontinuity of the end joints. The frame I provides a rigid enclosure fora. section of grating while the coua,ses,ass

truss bars l. including terminal pieces 8. that straight longitudinalbars or along the approxiplings locking the panels together are situatedmately aligned sides of the triangles formed by the truss bars toopposite sides or ends of the frame. Ihe coupling elements beingpermanently associated with the panels. they are conveniently availablewhen needed and may be easily manipulated to quickly and positivelyconnect the panels together to form a level and continuous roadway orrunway ail'ording excellent traction to the wheels of a vehicle. Becausethe panels are fabricated entirely of the same size and kind of stock,they may be produced rapidly and economically by quantity productionmethods and without specialized tools or machinery.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction herein shown and described, forobvious modiiications within the scope of the appended claims may occurto persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosing frame havingsubstantially parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal barsextending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementarylongitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediatethe main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of the endsections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extendingcontinuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main andsupplementary longituinal bars and between said side sections and theopposing faces of the adjoining supplementary bars to define therewith aseries of triangularly shaped openings, the sides of which extend inapproximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal piecesconnecting those ends of adjacent pairs of truss bars located uponopposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars, and means rigidlysecuring the ends of the supplementary longitudinal bars and saidterminal pieces to said end sections to provide a unitary panelstructure affording uniform stress distribution.

2. A grating panel comprising a continuous en. closing frame havingsubstantially parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal barsextending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementarylongitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediatethe main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of the endsections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extendingcontinuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main andsupplementary longitudinal bars and between said side sections and theopposing faces of the adjoining supplementary bars to define therewith aseries of triangularly shaped openings, the sides of which extend inapproximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal piecesconnecting those ends of adjacent pairs of truss bars located uponopposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars, said terminalpieces including a central portion and divergent leg portions, the freeends of the leg portions being connected to those of said truss bars,and a single fastening means rigidly securing an end of each of thesupplementary longitudinal bars and the central portion of each of saidterminal pieces to a corresponding end section to provide a unitarypanel structure affording uniform stress distribution.

3. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosing frame havingsubstantially parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal barsextending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementarylongitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediatethe main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of said endsections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extendingcontinuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main andsupplementary longitudinal bars and between the side sections and theopposing faces of the supplementary bars adjoining said side sections todefine therewith a series of triangularly shaped openings, the sides ofsaid openings extending in approximate alignment diagonally of thepanel, terminal pieces connecting those ends of adjacent pairs of trussbars located on opposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars,said supplementary longitudinal bars having their ends abutting andflatly engaging the terminal pieces, and means rigidly securing both thesupplementary longitudinal -bars and terminal pieces to said endsections to provide a unitary panel structure affording uniform stressdis tribution.

4. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosing frame havingsubstantialy parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal barsextending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementarylongitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediatethe main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of said endsections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extendingcontinuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main andsupplementary longitudinal bars and between the side sections and theopposing faces of the supplementary bars adjoining said side sections todefine therewith a series of triangularly shaped openings, the sides ofsaid openings extending in approximate alignment diagonally of thepanel, terminal pieces overlying and connecting those ends of adjacentpairs of truss bars located on opposite sides of the supple-V mentarylongitudinal bars, means rigidly securing the ends of the truss bars andterminal pieces to the main longitudinal -bars, said supplemental harshaving their ends bent so as to foot against and flatly engage theterminal pieces, and means rigidly securing the ends of thesupplementary longitudinal bars and the terminal pieces to said endsections to provide a unitary panel structure affording a uniform stressdistribution.

5. In an interlocking grating panel, a frame enclosing said panel havingsubstantially parallel side and end sections, said frame having inwardlyoffset portions along said side and end sections, and coupling elementsassociated with said oiset portions for locking a pair of abuttingpanels together, said coupling elements comprising a movable ringslidably mounted upon said frame, a. xed ring secured to said frame,certain of said fixed rings being mounted upon the side and end sectionsof said frame in a manner such that the companion fixed rings on theopposing sections of said abutting panels will be disposed in lateraljuxtaposition, and a key upon the movable ring constructed and arrangedto enter the juxtaposed pairs of xed rings for locking the abuttingpanels together.

6. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosed frame havingsubstantially parallel side and end sections, said frame having inwardlyoffset portions along its side and end sections, main longitudinal barsextending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementarylongitudinal bars extending substatinally parallel to and intermediatethe main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of said endsections, said truss bars being rigidly connected to and extendingcontinuously back and forth Ibetween opposing faces of said main andsupplementary longitudinal bars and between the side sections and theopposing faces of the adjoining supplementary'bars to define a series oftriangularly shaped openings, the sides of said openings extending inapproximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal piecesconnecting those ends of adjacent pairs of the truss bars located on theopposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars, saidsupplementary longitudinal bars having their ends abutting and flatlyengaging the terminal pieces, coupling elements associated with theoffset portions of said frame for lockinga pair of abutting panelstogether, said coupling elements comprising fixed rings secured to saidframe, certain of said fixed rings having spacer elements interposedbetween the terminal pieces and the frame, means rigidly securing thesupplementary longitudinal bar, terminal pieces and spacer elements 'tothe end sections of the frame, certain of said xed rings being mountedupon the side and end sections of the frame in a manner such that thecompanion iixed rings ofthe opposing sections of said abutting panelwill be disposed in lateral iuxtaposition, and a movable ring slidablymounted upon the frame having a key constructed and arranged to enterthe juxtaposed pair of xed rings for locking said panels together.

CHARLES N. WILSON.

